Coupler support



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COUPLER SUPPORT Filed Feb. 6, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENToR.

BY FRANK HKM'LER Q; @fbl W May l, 1956 F. H. KAYLER 2,743,822

coUPLER SUPPORT uf' l sir L/LLLJMLLLM INVENTOR. @if g 2% FRANK H. mmm

May 1, 1956 F. H. KAYLER 2,743,822

COUPLER SUPPORT 5 Sheets-Sheet v5 "611 is. iig @3359i Filed Feb. 6, 1952l N VEN TOR.

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United States Patent O COUPLER SUPPORT Frank H. Kayler, Alliance, Ohio,assignor to American `teel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofNew ersey Application February 6, 1952, Serial No. 270,240

17 Claims. (Cl. 213-60) This invention relates to railway couplers andmore particularly to a novel yoke and striking casting assembly. Thepresent application is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplication, Serial No. 605,233.

A primary object of the invention is to devise an arrangement whereinthe coupler yoke may 'be easily inserted into and removed from thebottom of the striking casting, and wherein the yoke and strikingcasting are formed and arranged to aiford maximum bearing surfacestherebetween to increase the service life of the device.

Another object of .the invention is to provide a reversible yoke whichmay be positioned with either the bottom side or the top side thereoffacing upwardly within the striking casting to facilitate assembly ofthe parts and to accommodate support of the yoke along either the top orbottom side thereof for the purpose of equalizing wear on the yoke inservice.

A further object of the invention is to `devise an arrangement whereinthe yoke is supported by a plate eX- tending through slots of thestriking casting land loosely seated on the casting in said slots, novelretaining means being provided to prevent accidental disassembly of theplate and to accommodate quick assembly and disassembly thereof asrequired during assembly and disassembly of the yoke and the couplershank to which the yoke is pivotally connected within the strikingcasting.

A more specific object of the invention is to devise a combined strikingand carrier casting rigidly secured to the car sills and having meansfor supporting a coupler Iat spaced points in such manner that theweight and downward thrust of the coupler `and yoke are reacted throughthe means which rigidly connect the casting to the sills fortransmitting pulling forces thereto.

The `foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from a consideration of the following specification andthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention,partly in section on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure l, partly insection on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the striking casting, partly insection on the line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5`5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the striking casting with portions brokenaway;

Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the striking casting;

Figures 8 to 10 illustrate the carrier iron shown in Figures l to 7,Figure 8 being a top plan View of the carrier iron, Figure 9 being afront elevational view thereof and Figure 10 being a side elevationalview thereof, and

Figures 1l |to 14 illustrate a modification of the invent-ion, Figure llbeing a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Figure l2,Figure l2 being a fragmentary front view, partly in vertical sectiontaken on the line 12-12 of Figure 1l, Figure 13 being a verticalsection-al view taken on the line 13-13 of Figure ll, and Figure 14being a horizontal sectional view, similar to Figure ll with portions ofthe structure removed to illus-trate the manner in which the yokesupport plate is assembled and disassembled.

Describing the invention in detail and referring rst to Figures 1 and 2of the drawings, the numeral 2 thereof designates the center sill of arailway car in which is mounted a coupler yoke 4 which embraces acushioning ydevice or draft gear mechanism indicated by dot and dashlines at 5. The device 5 bears at its rear extremity in the usual manneragainst stop lugs (not shown) and bears at the forward extremity thereofagainst a front follower 6 having a spherical surfaces in complementaryengagement with the bu-tt end l@ of a coupler shank 12, said shank beingpivotally mounted between top and bottom walls 14 and l16 of the yoke 4by a pivot pin 1'8 passing through aligned openings thereof.

A bearing block `2l) is disposed between the pin 18 and the butt end 10of the coupler shank 12, said block 20 having spherical engagement as at22 with said butt end 10 and having a concave surface in complementaryengagement as at 2'4 with the pin 18. The coupler shank 12 is formedwith a wall 25 at one side of the pin opening therethrough, and the wall25 is provided on the inner side thereof with diagonal surfaces 26 Iand2S diverging toward the horizontal center plane of the shank 12 andadapted to accommodate vertical angling thereof. lt

may be noted that horizontal angling of the shank 12 is- -accommodatedby the spherical engagement of the shank with the front follower and byengagement of the block 20 and pin 1S at 24. Vertical angling of theshank is accommodated by the spherical engagement thereof with thefollower 6 and block 20 and by the arrangement of the surfaces 26 and 28of the shank wall 25.

`It will be understood th-a-t under service conditions bufng impactsagainst a coupled head 30 attached to the shank 12 urge the shank andyoke 4 rearwardly whereby the front follower 6 compresses the draft gearmechanism 5 against the rear stops (not shown) of the center sill 2.Under pulling conditions, the draft gear mechanism 5 is compressedagainst the front follower 6, as hereinafter described.

Referring now to Figures l and 3, the center sill 2 comprises a top wall32 joining vertical walls 34 and 36 thereof, and the top wall 32 ispreferably connected to an end sill 37 as by riveting or other suitablemeans indicated at 38 in Figure 2. Each of the walls 34 and 36 ispreferably formed at the lower edge thereof with a laterally extendingoutturned ilange 39, and the flanges 39 are interconnected by atransverse plate 40 extending therebetween and secured thereto in anydesired manner for supporting the coupler yoke 4 between its ends.

As best seen in Figures 4 to 7, a striking or support member, preferablyin the form of a casting, generally designated 42, is supported from thecen-ter and end sills; and the casting is preferably formed with ahollow, top, coupler-striking or stop portion 44 as well as dependingcarrier supports 46 and a carrier spring support 4S. The strikingportion 44 is substantially rectangular in form and is preferablyprovided with an upstanding flange 50 which may be secured in anyconvenient manner as by riveting at 52 to the end sill 37.

The ilange 50 is preferably reinforced by longitudinal webs 54 (Figure4) merging with the llange 5) and with a top wall 56 of the portion 44.A longitudinal web S7 extending parallel with the webs 54 also mergeswith the verse .wall 62 secured by the rivets 38` tol the end sill 37,

asbestyse'en in Figure 2.. l

g4 downwardly at opposite sides of the striking 44 are the. abovementionedV carrier supports 4'6. substantially vertical side walls 64merging at.

their: lownrextremities with a bottom wall 66 and with transverse frontand. rear walls 68 defining the before mentional spring support. 48having. a pocket 70 betweentite walls 68 for convenient. reception ofcarrier springs 12 which support a carrier iron generally desigmd 7.4i y

Referring now to Figures 8 to l0 inclusive, the carrier imei-ndrectangular cup-like form. for reception. in the shaped pocket 70` ofthe spring support 48. comprises a top wall 76 which is preferl frmled.yo Wear resistant material to support a couplmllnnk, delignatedat. 1-2.ini Figure 4, saidy shank having pivotah mating for horizontal and.vertical angling as` fully denaribed inthe parent application.

The wall 76-is provided with aplurality of depending, springbosses80-received within the. upper ends of the springs 72, the lower.ends of. which are similarlyy po.- sititmui by upstanding bosses 81 onthe bottom wall 66 o6 the spring support 48.

Ble carrier iron wally 76 is also formedl adjacent its edles; transversewallsv 82 and side walls 84, 'l `pocket for reception of the springs72,` as best sennin Fiume 4 and 5. The inner surfaces of these wallsnelmcuntelyformed as indicated; at 85 inFigure 8 to-af.-

fad mnient positioningV for` the lateral springs: 72. at:

opposite ide: ofthecenter spring 72 andto atord maximam spring'capacityconsistent with adequate strength forl service conditions;

M carrier iron side wall 84 is formed with top and bottom outturnedanges 86, the'top anges merging with thetmderside of' the top wall 76,and the'bottoml flanges being spacedfrom the top flanges 86 to denerecesses receiving the'inner ends ofelongated retainerplates 88'rivetedas at 90 to outturnedanges 92.integra1 with therelated a& f Walla` 64 ofthe striking casting 42! and extendingV thmugh slots 95 (Figure 4) intherelated'side walls 64 as Figures 4 and 6.

The.. retainer plates,- as best seen. in Figure 4,. are anchmod.` theirouter'extremities by the rivets 90.or other convenient detachablesecuringmeanssuch4 as bolt andinut assemblies abutting the remotesurfaces of the. anges 92: andrrelatedplates 88;,andthe: inner ends ofthe plates4 88 mengageablewith the carrier iron lugs 86 to: limit verdell.' :navenant of the iron. In this connection. it-

l that'normally the springs 72 are preconrpinned to maintain the couplershank 12` at. the.l height shown in Figure 4;. however, downwardmovement of the'.

shank 4 under service conditions results in furtherk compression of thesprings 72 which upon-upward movement' offthe'shank 4 urge'the bottomstop lugs 86V of the carrier ironagainst the underside of the retainerplatesSSattheir metida; f

inasmuch as the retainer plates 88'are` subjected to re* pelted impactsby the. bottom carrierv ironV lugs 86 under service conditions, thenovel. arrangement, best: seen in Figure 4;, aiIords bearing for theplates 88 for aY major politica of their length against the undersideofthe anges so. that the bottom' lugs 86' upon contactwith the planes 88under the action of the springs 72 act against theplates 88 throughrelatively short. lever arms thereof,4

arhntV which` greatly reduces stressesy on the rivatl..` Itawill befurther noted. that, although the;.slots. 3^ are. illustratedy ini thedrawings as bounded at. their um' dlelfbyoutturnedanges 92 ofthefstriking casting,1 if lllited,.-thelowsr. edgesiot. the slots95 maybe similarly 4, bounded by outturned anges through which the rivets 90or other suitable securing means may extend.

Furthermore, it will be understood that the thickness of the retainerplates 88 may be Varied by the use of shims; or plates of otherthicknesses may be substituted for the plates 88; and it will beunderstood that the precompression of the springs 72 is suicientA asabove described to urge the bottom stop lugs 86- of the carrier ironinto engagement with the plates 88 when the coupler shank 12 issupportedr in` it'sf normali horizontal coupling position by the carrieriron. It will: thus be apparent that the novel arrangement of plates 88affords a simple method of adjusting the coupler' shank 12. to. itscorrect coupling height.

As best seen in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the side wall 64 of each support 46extends rearwardly thereof and merges with the wall 62, each of saidwalls 64 having an inturned ange 93 at the inner or rear extremitythereof as well as` gussets 94 merging with the follower stop flanges 93for. reinforcing, thesame, said gussets 94 dening. top and bottom,margins of' a key slot through. the side Wall 64 for the receptionv ofan associated horizontal key for a draft arrangement (not shown) whereinthe yoke 4 isl connected. by such a key to the coupler shank 12. Eachwall 64-of the casting 42 is provided with a plurality of openings 96.adapted: toV receive rivets or other convenient securing, means.- forattaching: the walls 64 to the related walls 34- andL 36- of the centersill 2, as clearly shown at 98 in Figures l and 2. It will also be notedin Figure 2 that the: anges 93 abut the follower 6 to limit outwardmovement thereof, whereby pulling forces on the coupler head 30.Fcompress theL draft gear mechanism S4 against the4 front foll'ower 6 tocushion and yieldably resist such pulling forces;

Referring now' to Figures 2,. 3. and 5, it will be seen that each sidewall 64 is formed at the lower edge thereof with a flange 1041 extendingbeneath the adjacent flange of the center'sill 2. The1sidefwalls64 arealso provided above the ilangesf104 with aligned slots 106 receiving across bar or plate I08supported onk said flanges and supporting the end`portions of the yoke and shank at their pivotal connection with eachother.' The plate 108 is prevented from accidentaliendwisemovement`through saidE slots by having one end? engageable with one or moreupwardly extendingv lugs1 10of one of'thetanges 104, the opposite end ofthe plate 108 being engageable with an abutment member or retainerplatelll detachably secured as by a rivet 115 to the adjacent flange 39Lof the sill 2. This constructionv permits'the weight'v ofthe coupler andthey down thrust thereof during verticali anglingv to be transmittedthrough the yoke plate-108` directly'to the striking casting 42 andthence to the center sillL 2 through the same rivets 98 which are usedto anchorth'ecasting'for transmitting pulling stresses fromthe couplershank 12 to the center sill 2. This novel constructure also eliminatesthe necessity of providing heavy bolts or rivets which would otherwisebe required to hold the plate 108if it were 'attached in the usualmanner to the flange 39" of the sill 2.

Referring now to Figures 1,2, 5, and 6, it willbe noted that the top.and bottom walls 14 and'1`6 of the yoke 4; are positioned between thewalls 64 of the carrier 42 and are formed with oppositely facing sides112 in substantially parallel relationship for a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

Adjacentv the ends thereof, thevwalls 14 and 16 of theyoke, areconnected by intermediate spaced' walls 1.1'4 diverging as at 116 towardthe walls 64 of the casting 42.

The walls 64 ofthe casting 42 are provided along their upper edges withinturned flanges 118 merging at their forward extremities with. the wall62 and merging at their rear extremity with the 'anges 93 on the rearedges of the wall 64. The flanges 118 are provided with parallelsurfaces 12.0 facing the related surfaces 112 ofthe yoke, and.the-.lowergussets94 ofthe walls 64 are formed. with parallel. surfaces. 12.4. as;well as. diver-gingsurfaces; 126., wherebyupon. entering, the yokethrough the bottom of the casting 42, the upper surfaces 112 of the yokeare guidably engaged by the surfaces 124 of thegussets 94, and the walls114 of the yoke are guidably engaged by the surfaces 126 of the gussets94. Upon movement yof the yoke upwardly into assembled position with thecasting 42, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the upper surfaces 112 ofthe yoke are guidably engaged with the surfaces 120, and the lowersurfaces 112 of the yoke are guidably engaged with the surfaces 124 ofthe gussets 94 above the slots 106. Under these conditions, the yokewalls 114 are disposed above the surfaces 126 and below the surfaces 120to accommodate linear movement of the yoke, with the surfaces 112thereof guidably confined between the surfaces 120 and 124 of thestriking casting. It will thus be apparent that the yoke may beassembled and disassembled from the bottom of the casting 42 and inassembled position is afforded relatively large bearing areas along thesurfaces 112 of the yoke and the Cooperating surfaces 120 and 124 of thecasting to reduce wear in service as the yoke is moved forwardly andrearwardly during pulling and bung forces on the coupler head 30.

it will also be noted that the yoke may be positioned with either top orbottom side up, inasmuch as the yoke is symmetrical about its horizontalcenter plane and thus the yoke may be reversed when desired to equalizesurface wear along the upper and lower flat bearing surfaces thereof, asbest seen in Figure 3.

It may also be noted, as best seen in Figure 5, that each guide surface124 of the striking casting 42 as well as the merging guide surface 126thereof is interrupted by the related slot 106 of the casting side wall64, thereby affording a compact arrangement wherein the yoke isimmediately guided by the surfaces 124 and 126 upon insertion of theyoke into the casting 42 at the bottom thereof.

Figures ll to 14 illustrate a modification of the invention whereinparts corresponding to those of Figures 1 to l are identified bycorresponding numerals. In the modification, at least one of the slots106 of the striking casting 42 is elongated to accommodate insertion ofan abutment member or retainer plate 113 between the forward edge of theyoke support plate 108 and the forward edge of the'slot 106. Theretainer plate 113 is detachably secured to the striking casting 42 by areadily removable securing member such as a cotter 150 extending looselythrough aligned openings of the plate 113 and a lug 152 formed on theexterior of the side wall 64.

The ends of the plate 108 are restrained against movement lengthwisethereof by upstanding anges or lugs 154, whereby the yoke support plate108 in assembled position of Figure 11 is maintained in assembledposition by the anges 154 and by the rear edges of the slots 106 and bythe retainer plate 113. The pin 18 is illustrated in Figure 1l at itsnormal position in solid lines and is illustrated in phantom lines at18a in the extreme forward position of the pin upon imposition ofmaximum pullng forces on the coupler. The pin is also illustrated inphantom lines at 18b in the extreme rearward position thereof duringimposition of maximum bufrlng forces on the coupler shank.

Thus it will be understood that when the pin 18 is moved to the positionof 18a, forward movement of the yoke support plate 108 is limited byabutment thereof with the rear edge of the retainer plate 113 which isloosely secured to the lug 152 as above described, so that the plate 113may abut the related side wall 64 along complementary ilat surfaces atthe forward edges of the slot 106, thereby preventing imposition ofcoupler pulling forces on the retaining cotter 150. When the pin 18 isurged to the extreme but-ling position at 18b, rearward movement of theyoke support plate 108 is limited by abutment thereof along its rearedge with complementary flat surfaces defining the rear margins of theslots 106.

During horizontal angling of the coupler shank movement of the yokesupport plate 108 lengthwise thereof is limited by abutment at its endsalong complementary at surfaces thereof and of the flanges 154. Also,rotational movement of the yoke support plate 108 from the positionshown in Figure 11 in a clockwise direction is limited by abutment ofthe forward left-hand edge of the plate 108 with retainer plate 113 andby abutment of the rear right-hand edge of the plate 108 with the rearmargin of the related slot 106; and rotational movement of the yokesupport plate 108 in a counterclockwise direction from the positionshown in Figure 1l is limited by abutment of the forward right-hand edgeof the plate 108 with the forward edge of the related slot 106 and byabutment of the rear left-hand edge of the plate 108 with the rearmargin of the related slot 106.

As best understood by a comparison of Figures 11 and 14, upon removal ofthe cotter the retainer plate 113 may be readily removed, whereupon theplate 108 may be rotated in a clockwise direction from the positionshown in Figure 11 to the position shown in Figure 14 accommodatingremoval of the yoke support plate 108 which may be assembled byinserting it as shown in Figure 14 into the slots 106, whereupon theplate 108 may be rotated to the position shown in Figure 11,accommodating assembly of the retainer plate 113 and cotter 150.

I claim:

1. A coupler mounting comprising a sill structure, a yoke having top andbottom walls and having intermediate walls connected thereto anddiverging forwardly from their connection to said top and bottom walls,said top and bottom walls having substantially parallel guide surfacesextending lengthwise thereof above and below said diverging walls, acoupler shank projecting between said top and bottom walls, a pinextending through vertically aligned openings through said shank andthrough said top and bottom walls, a support structure carried by thesill structure, said support structure having substantial parallel sidewalls with inturned top and rear flanges presenting guide surfacessubstantially parallel to and facing the related yoke guide surfaces,said support structure having gussets on the inner surfaces of said sidewalls, each gusset merging with the related rear flange and having aguide surface coplanar with the guide surfaces thereof, and each gussethaving a diagonal guide surface complementary to the exterior surface ofthe related intermediate wall to accommodate insertion and removal ofthe yoke at the bottom of said support structure, slots through saidside walls, said slots being entirely disposed below the horizontalcenter plane of said side walls, a plate removably positioned in saidslots below said bottom wall of said yoke and supporting said bottomwall beneath said pin, the lower end of said pin bearing against andsupported by said plate, and means connected to at least one of saidstructures to prevent accidental disassembly of said plate from saidslots, certain of said means comprising readily detachable lugsabuttably engaging the plate to prevent disassembly thereof.

2. A coupler mounting comprising a sill structure, a yoke having top andbottom walls and having intermediate walls connected thereto anddiverging forwardly from their connection to said top and bottom walls,said top wall having substantially parallel guide surfaces above theintermediate walls, said bottom wall having substantially parallel guidesurfaces below the intermediate walls, a coupler shank projectingbetween said top and bottom walls and pivotally connected thereto, asupport structure carried by the sill structure, said support structurehaving substantially parallel side walls presenting guide surfacessubstantially parallel to and facing the related guide surfaces of thetop and bottom walls, said side walls having lower guide surfacesmerging with the related rear guide surfaces and having other guidesurfaces diverging forwardly from the lower guide surfaces toaccommodate passage of the diverging yoke walls between said divergingguide surfaces during assembly and disassembly of b yd@ with respecttosaid` support structure; slots Mlgll `te side' Wallis-below theirlhorizontali center plane .ld below said lower and diverging-v guide`surfaces, andal plate removably positioned' in said slots bel'ow aldsupporting the bottom wall? of said yoke, and de-V mmtable almtmentsfixed tothe sillv structure andi en wahl@ with the. plate'toipreventaccidental; disassembly @the plum.

3. A coupler. mounting comprising a sill structure, ayd: top and. bottomwallsand having interme the. duerging walls therebetween duringassembly) and disassemblyl of the yoke with respect tothe supportstructure, slots through the side walls, said slots being entirelydisposed below the horizontal center plane ofy said side Walls and beingdisposed beneath the lower and diverging guidev surfaces, a plateloosely extending through said slots and seated on the support structureat the bottomV of, said slots, the` bottom wall of. saidv yoke beingseated on and supportedby said plate andy means carried by at least oneof said structures for restraining the plate against movement endwisethereof and laterally thereof, thereby preventing accidental disassemblyof the plate, Certain of said means being a readily removable abutmentenageable with an end of the plate, anddraft stop means on the rearedges of the side walls whereby said connecting means transmit vpullingforces from said draft stop means tovsaid sill structure and alsotransmit downward thrust of the yoke against said plate to said sillstructure.

4. A coupler mounting comprising a sill structure, a support structureconnected thereto, said support structure having substantially parallel`side walls, each side- Wall presenting substantially vertical coplanarinwardly facing upper and lower and rear guide surfaces, and said vsidelwalls having substantially vertical diverging guide surfaces mergingwith the forward ends of the lower guide surfaces, a yoke havingsubstantially vertical upper guide surfaces facing the upper side wallsurfaces, re,- spectiwely,A said yoke having substantially verticallower guide-surfaces facing the lower side wall surfaces, respectively,and said yoke having substantially vertical diverging` surfaces abovethe diverging side wall surfaces and adapted topass therebetween duringassembly and disassembly of the yoke with respect to the supportstructure, slots through the side walls entirely disposed below thehorizontal center plane thereof, and a support plate loosely positionedin the slots and supported by the side wallsat the, bottom of saidslots, said yoke being seated at the bottom thereof upon said plate forsupport thereby.

5.` A coupler mounting, according to claim 4, wherein the slotsinterrupt the lower side wall surfaces and also interrupt the divergingside wall surfaces.

6`. A coupler mounting, according to claim 4, wherein,

atleast one of the sill and support structures is provided with abutmentmeans to be engageable with and confine the plate'against movementendwise thereof and laterally thereof, certain of the means beingreadily detachable withy respect to the related structure to accommodateassembly and disassembly of the plate.

7. A coupler mounting, according'toclaim` 6, wherein certainof thevmeans are carried by the sill structure and other ofl the meansarecarried by the support structure.

8. Ina coupler mounting, a support stmcturehaving side walls, slotsthrough saidk walls, ay support: plate ex tendingthrough'- said slots tosupportan associatedE coupler device, abutments onv saidstructure;integral' therewith and engageable withz the ends` andi rear edge ofsaid plate to transmit impacts therefromv to said'. structure duringhorizontal angling` or buing of said device, a retainer plate separablefrom said structure andpositioned within at least one of said'slotsforwardly of said support plate and engageabley with the forward'edge: thereof during pulling of said device, said retainer plateV beingengageable` with aA rearwardly. facing surface of. said structure insaid slot, and readily removable means connecting the retainer plate to=said structure and*l accommodating limited fore andaftmovem'ent of theplate whereby pulling forcesy on said dev-ice urge the supporta plateagainst the retainer platethereby-urginglthe. latter against saidsurface to transmit said forces thereto, the distance between saidsurface and the related abutment being greater thanv the width ofy said?support plate, to accommodate removal thereof from said slots` upondisassembly of said means andl said retainer plate;

9. A striking structure comprising top and bottom and spaced side wallsdefining an openingfor. reception of an associated coupler shank, foreand aft transverse walls connected to said side walls and dening aspring pocket, said side walls extendingV rearwardly of said top wallandbeing formed with inturnedrear and top anges along their rear andupper-edges,respectively, the anges of the respective side: walls-havingsubstantially parallel yoke guide, surfaces,y the. top anges beingconnectedy to said top wall, and gussetsbeneath said top flangesconnecting theinner sides of said side walls at. their bottom endsto therear anges at their bottom ends, respectively, said` gussetshavingsubstantially. parallel yoke guide surfaces below the level of the aftwall and approximately coplanar with the related first mentionedsurfaces below the level of said aft wall, and said gussets having otheryoke guide surfaces converging. toward the second mentioned, surfaces,respectively, and merging therewith, and aligned slots throughrespective side walls, each slot interrupting the guide surfaces of therelatedgusset.

l0. A.v striking structure comprising spaced side walls, a bottom springsupport wall therebetween, said side walls extending rearwardly fromsaid' bottom wall and having inturned flanges, respectively, extendingaround their upper, lower and'rear edges, said flanges having mutuallyfacing substantially vertical parallel'yoke guide surfaces,respectively, each of said'surfaces extending around the upper, lowerandrear edge of the relatedV side walls, and said side walls beingformed with inwardly and rearwardly converging substantially ver-ticalyoke guide surfaces merging` with the first mentionedl surfaces,`respectively, and disposed' entirely below the horizontal center planeof said structure, said sidewalls being provided with slots extendingtherethrough, said slots interrupting thc converging surfaces and themerging portionsl of the ange surfaces.

ll. In a coupler mounting, a structure comprising a frame havingtopandbottom-portions and side portions connecting saidE topand bottomportions, substantially parallel Walls projecting from said sideportions laterally of the farme, a top web interconnectingfsaid wallsadjacent saidframe along their top edges, flanges coplanar with said webconnected thereto and to` said walls and presenting substantiallyvertical guide surfaces at their adjacent lateral' edges, angesont theadjacent sides of said walls intermediate the top and bottom edgesthereof presenting opposed'abutment faces diverging toward said frame, ayoke insertable between: saidwall's from the bottom of said. structurecomprising faces intermediate the top and bottom thereof" formedl andiarranged for complementaryengagement' with saidf faces,eand surfaces atthe top andbottom of'l saicli yoke extending: longitudinally of saidyoke adapted for: guiding'engagementy with'k said guidesurfaces, slotsthrough. said: side.'y walls entirely,u dis.- posed below.' theyhorizontal, center-plane; of said structure, each slot interrupting theabutment face of the related tiange, and a substantially flat platehaving its ends in said slots, said plate supporting said yoke at thebottom thereof, a coupler shank in said yoke, aligned pin holes throughthe yoke and shank, and a pin supported at its lower end by said plate,said pin extending through said pin holes to afford a pivotal connectionbetween lthe yoke and shank.

12. A striker casting comprising spaced side walls, a pair of spacedfore and aft transverse walls extending between and connected to theside walls, a bottom wall interconnecting the transverse walls anddefining therewith a spring pocket, and aligned slots through the sideWalls entirely disposed below the level of said transverse walls for thereception of an associated yoke support plate.

13. A striker casting according to claim 12, wherein the top and bottomand rear edges of the side walls are provided with irl-turned flanges,the inner edges of the anges on each side wall presenting yoke guidesurfaces substantially parallel to those of the flanges on the otherside wall, and forwardly diverging yoke guide surfaces on the innersides of respective side walls, each of said diverging yoke guidesurfaces bounding the upper margin of the related slot.

14. A striker casting comprising spaced side walls, spaced fore and afttransverse walls interconnecting the side walls, a bottom wallinterconnecting the transverse walls and defining a spring pockettherewith, aligned slots through said side walls entirely disposed belowthe level of said transverse walls for reception of an associated yokesupport plate, and other aligned slots through said side walls above thefirst mentioned slots for the reception of an associated key.

15. ln a railway draft appliance, a center sill structure havingvertically disposed side walls, a horizontally disposed ange extendingoutwardly from the lower extremity of each side wall, a striker castingincluding one side wall portion lying along an inner surface of one sidewall of the sill structure and another side wall portion lying along aninner surface of the other side wall of the sill structure, means forsecuring the striker side wall portions to the center sill structure,said side wall portions of the striker depending below the respectivehorizontal iianges, said side wall portions each having a horizontalslot therethrough, a yoke pin and yoke support plate extendingtransversely of the sill structure supported on the striker within saidslots, an abutment member engaging the undersurface of one ange adjacentone end of the plate, means removably securing said abutment member tothe associated flange, said abutment member being engageable with oneend of said plate to prevent removal thereof through the related slot,and means engageable with the other end of the plate to prevent removalthereof through the other slot.

16. In a railway draft appliance, a center sill structure 10 verticalside walls, a horizontally disposed ange extending outwardly from thelower extremity of each side wall, a striker structure including oneside wall portion lying along an inner surface of one side wall of thesill structure and including another side wall portion lying along aninner surface of the other side wall of the sill structure, means forsecuring the striker structure to the center sill structure, said sidewall portions of the striker structure depending below said horizontalflanges, and each of said side wall portions having a horizontal slottherein, an elongated yoke pin and yoke support plate adapted forendwise movement through either of said slots when the structures arenot secured to each other, an abutment member engaging the undersurfaceof one flange adjacent one end of said plate and engageable with saidend of the plate to prevent its removal through the related slot whenthe structures are secured to each other, means removably securing saidabutment having member to the associated ange, and a second abutment vmember carried by one of said structures, said second abutment memberbeing engageable with the opposite end of the plate to prevent removalthereof through the other slot when the structures are secured to eachother.

17. In a railway draft appliance, a center sill structure havingvertical side walls, a horizontal ange extending outwardly from a lowerextremity of each side wall, a striker structure including one side wallportion lying along an inner surface of one side wall of the sillstructure and including another side wall portion lying along an innersurface of thev other side wall of the sill structure, means securingthe striker structure to the center sill structure, each side wallportion of the striker structure depending below the associatedhorizontal ange, said dependingside wall portions of the strikerstructure each having a slot therethrough below said horizontal flanges,an elongated yoke pin and yoke support plate supported by said strikerstructure and separable therefrom, the ends of saidplate extending intothe respective slots, an abutment member underlying one flange adjacentone end of the plate and engageable with said end of the plate toprevent its removal through the related slot, removable means securingsaid abutment member to said flange, and means engageable with the plateto prevent its removal from the other slot.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,535,316 Kadel Apr. 28, 1925 1,612,540 Simmons Dec. 28, 1926r 1,923,433Gilpin Aug. 22, 1933 1,979,217 Barrows Oct. 30, 1934 2,000,683 Akitt May7, 1935 2,019,311 Kinne Oct. 29, 1935 2,147,018 Dwyer Feb. 14, 19392,515,964 Metzger July 18. 1950

